Air conditioning apparatus



L. E. SEELEY AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS June 13, 1939.

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duren i SveeZe y Patented June 13, 1%@

UNITED s'rarns eArEn'r Appiication December 9, i936, Serial No. lleLQSSi iiiaims.

This invention pertains to air conditioning apparatus of the kindwherein an vappliance or unit, comprising a heat exchanger and moistureevolving means, is designed tc be installed within or substantiallyWithin the space wherein the air is to be conditioned, for example theroom or" a dwelling house, apartment or the like, such an appliance orunit being Quite distinct type and mode oi operation from apparatuswhich delivers the conditioned air` to the room tlncngh ducts from amore or less remote central conditioning apparatus.

rf ypical of heat exchangers desirab e tor use in appliances such asabove described, are the various types of so-called radiator, to witthose known as tubular, column, or sectional radiators,

f wall radiators, panel radiators, window type radiators, pipe coilradiators, fan type radiators, unit heaters, etc. most o which actprimarily by convection and/or conduction, rather than actual radiation,to change the temperature of the ambient fir, but it is to be understoodthat rivention ls applicable generally to ers of any o these variouskinds, as not specically enumerated. 'However, as t...ilustrativeembodiment of the invention, it has heen chosen to show anddescribe it herein in detail as comprising a sectional heat exchanger soenclosed in an air guiding or directthe 4present ing casing that thetemperature of the ambient air is changed almost wholly by convectionand/or conduction by direct contact with the surfaces of the heatexchanger rather than by true radiation, such appliance beinghereinafter referred to for convenience as an enclosed radiator orconvector.

The principal object of the present invention,

is to provide air moistening means so associated with a heat exchangeras to form a conditioning appliance or unit, as described, and whereinthe air moistening means is of high efliciency for evaporating anddiffusing a fluid, for example Water, into the stream of air flowingthrough the appliance, and so designed as to alford substantialuniformity of operation without requiring the attention of the occupantof the room, but at the same time of a design such that it will not beoffensive to the eye or tendV to collect dust or dirt.

A further object is to provide evaporative means for use in such aconditioning appliance or unit such that the eiective evaporative areamay readily be varied in extent or character to suit substantially anycondition which maybe met within service. It is a further objectl of thevinvention to provide moisture evolving means of a novel characterwhich, while highly eiiective for lts intended purpose, is verydurableand may readily be cleaned without detriment to its usefulness. 5Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter bepointed out in the following more detailed description wherein referenceis madeto the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section, and with theouter casing indicated in broken lines, of a heating and moisteningappliance or unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the appliance of Fig. 1illustrating automatic means for snppying uid for evaporation by theheat exchanger;

3 is a perspective View illustrating a desirable form of evaporativeplate useful in the practice of the invention; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective sectional View showing Aonedesirable means of holding the evaporative element in assembled relationto the heat exchanger proper;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view to small scale, showing a possiblearrangement of evaporative plates in association with a long sectionalheat exchanger;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing one possible form vofevaporative plate; 30

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, to small scale, of a plate of a differentshape;

Fig. 8 is a View, generally similar to Fig. 2, but to smaller scale andillustrative of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view i11ustrat ing the upper part ofan appliance like that of Fig. 2, but showing a modified arrangement forholding the evaporative plates in position; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrative of a. more generalembodiment of the invention.

- Referring to Figsfl to 6 of the drawing, which more specificallyillustrates the invention, by way of example, as embodied in a' heatingand moistening appliance comprising a sectional heat ex-` changerenclosed in an outer casing through which air flows in an upwarddirection in intimate contact with the surfaces of the heat exchangersections, the numeral l designates a. sec-` 50 tional heater ofconventional form provided with spacesand channels for the circulationof a circulating medium such as water, steam or gas. This heat exchangeror radiator, as' usual, is made up of a plurality of sections 2,' 3, I.etc.;

suitably coupled togetheras by means of tapered nipples or the like, theend sections being furnished with legs 2 whereby the hea-t exchanger orradiator proper 1s distance from the floor. The'uld space 5 l(Fig.

2) within each radiator section is closed at its top by means of a wall6 integral with the side walls of the section, such top wall member Iibeing shaped to provide the bottom of a. depression 'l elongate in thedirection of the front-to-rear depth of the radiator and preferablyextending substantially from the front to the rear of the section, suchrecess or 'cavity constituting an evaporating pan and preferably havingdown- 1 wardly sloping side walls 8 and 9 (Fig. 1) integral with thewall 6. Preferably the cavities or evaporating pans I of the severalsections are connected together so that collectively they may beconsidered asconstituting a single large-pan.

If desired, they may be connected by'means of small pipes running fromone section to the next conduct water to the evaporating pan 'I of suchvendmost section. The pipe II leads from a suitable regulator I2 whichmay, for example, be

, located at a convenient point on the wall of the a tion 2. The wateror other fluid thus permitted' room and which comprises either anautomatic control, responsive to moisture conditions in the room, or aregulable manually actuated valve designed to permit a predeterminedquantity of uid per unit of time to flow through the pipe vII and intothe evaporating pan of the end sec# in regulated amount to enter thepipe II may be supplied through a pipe I3 leading, for ex ample, froma-secondary controller I3, including, if desired, a filter or otherdevice and which receives a constant supply of fluid from a suitablesource, for example, a supply pipe (not shown) forming a part of a citywater system.

Preferably an overflow is provided, for example,

a small passage I4 (Fig. 2) leading from the upper part of theevaporating pan 1 and into the entrance to an overflow pipe I5, tappedinto the radiator section and leading to any desired point of discharge.

In accordance with the present invention, the4 evaporative surface is`greatly increased over that provided by the free surface of the fluidin the .pans l by the use of evaporating ,plates I6.

These plates, as shown in Fig. 2, are preferably although notnecessarily disposed in substantially vertical, spaced parallel relationand project up to a predetermined distance above the tops of theradiator sections. Each of these plates, as illustrated in Fig. 3 ispreferably of more or less rectangular contour, preferably having thesmoothly rounded upper corners II and being provided with a plurality ofintegral downwardly projecting legs I8 at its lower edge. Preferablythese legs I8 are of truncated downwardly tapering contour, each legbeing adapted to t between the sloping side Walls 8 and 9 of one of thevevaporating pans. In order to hold these plates supported at a suitablelin proper .operative position the inner surface of each pan 'I may, ifdesired, be provided with pairs of integral outstanding parallel ribs I9or equivalentv means, the ribsV of each pair -being adapted to engageopposite sides of the legs I9 of one of the evaporating plates, therebyto hold the plate upright although permitting ready removal of theplatemerely by lifting it from the radiator.

'Preferably these plates-are of some relatively stiff material so thatthe plates will remain substantially flat and'upright for a long time,even though subjected to lheat and moisture. These plates I6 may be of amoisture-absorbent material throughout, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,or if preferred (as illustrated vat I6, Fig. 6) may consist of a tough,nonbreakable material IIb such, for example, as sheet metal which is notmoisture-absorbent itself but whichis provided with moisturefabsorbentcovering or surface layers I6, for example sheet asbestos.

While doubtless various materials can be used for making the plates, ithas been found that an inorganic material is to be preferred, forexample ceramic material such as unglazed porcelain or the like. Such amaterial possesses the desired rigidity and shape-retaining qualities,it is quite bibulous so that it readily takes up fluid V from theevaporating pan, and diffuses such fluid by capillary action throughoutits substance, but it is also very readily cleaned, since its surface ishard and visually smooth and does not readily pick up dust or otherparticles of y appreciable slze.

The radiator I (of generally conventional type, as above suggested, andcomprising a. series of spaced, substantially vertical parallel sections2, 3, 4, etc., between which the air, as it is warmed, tends to moveupwardly in substantially parallel streams) is enclosed i'n an outercasing 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) for example of pressed metal or the like, andwhich usually comprises an opening or grill at its lower part for theentrance of air and an exit opening or grill at its top. Such anenclosing casing constrains the air to flow in intimate contact with thesurfaces of the radiator sections and by convection and/or conduction totake up heat by direct transfer from the metal, and then to moveupwardly as a warm andmoisture-absorbent current over the surfaces ofthe plates I6 from which it very rapidly absorbs moisture.

It is vcontemplated that the plates I6 may be made in various lengthscorresponding to the different numbers of sections which may beassembled to form radiators, and that while each section may befurnished with means, for example the ribs` I9, for holding a maximumnumber of the plates I6, the actual number of plates employed in anygiven instance may be varied to suit conditions. For example, if it befound that the number of plates employed tends to produce too pronounceda moistening of the air in a given space, one or more of the plates mayreadily be removed merely by lifting it from its socket, thus reducingthe evaporative capacity of the conditioning apparatus. It is furtherlto be noted that since the air current which rises between the spacedparallel radiator'sections `and passes between these plates is mainly inan upward direction there is little tendencyfor dust to accumulate uponthe plates or in the evaporating pans and that if some dust eventuallydoes gather upon the plates they may readily be cleaned mere- `ly byremoving them and wiping them off. It is air in the room has beenmentioned as the principal object of the apparatus disclosed, it iscontemplated that the evaporating pans and plates may be employed forother purposes, for' for the evaporation of disinfectants, perfumes orthe like.v

While a radiator or heat exchanger containing but five sections is hereillustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is in no waylimited to the number of sections, which may be as few or many asdesired, and it is further contemplated that if the radiator be of greatlength single plates I6 need not extend the entire length of theradiator and that each plate may extend only over a limited number ofsections, for example diagrammatically as illustrated in Fig. 5, inwhich event, successive plates longitudinally of the radiator might, forexample, be arranged end to end as shown. It isfurther to be understoodthat the exact shapes and dimensions of the plates I6 are notnecessarily such as `,here illustrated, since these plates may be madeof any desired contour, height and thickness, in accordance with therequirements of the particular use and as circumstances may show to beuseful, a plate of one such different contour being shown by way ofexample at I6X, Fig. '7. i

Referring to Fig. 8, a slightly modied arrangement is illustratedwherein the sectional.

heat exchanger or heater 2 is provided at its upper part o nlywith anenclosing and air directing casing 20, so lthat the lower part of the.A

heater may act to Warm its surroundings, in part at least, by radiation,while its upper part acts more particularly by'convection and/or con- Aduction to heat the air current ascending through the casing 20a. Inthis arrangement, as in that previously described, the heater orradiator sections are provided with an evaporating pan or pans in whichare disposed the evaporativel plates I6, such as above described, soarranged as to expose extended areas to the ascending current of air.

In Fig, 9 a further slight modication is illustrated wherein the heater2, having the evaporating pan at its upper part is furnished with acover 2| for the pan, such as to keep out dust, dirt or rubbish, suchcover being furnished with slots in which are seated evaporative platesI6 preferably of the kind above` described. With this arrangement mostof the evaporation takes place from the exposed surfaces of the platesI6 above the cover 2l, the lower parts of the plates dippingV into thewater in the pan so that the water is drawn upwardly into the upperparts i, of the plates by capillary action. In this instance the outercasing 2lib is shown as somewhat restricted at its upper end or outlet,thereby to insure a more rapid flow of @the air over the surfaces of theplates .l 6.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated in a more or less diagrammatic'way anappliance embodying a further modic'ation of the invention.Y In thisarrangement the numeral 22 designates a casing of any desired shape,size and material, preferably provided with a grill 23 or other type ofair inlet near its lower part, and preferably having a cover 24 providedwith a grid-like air outlet, it being understood that the casing -may befurnished with any desired form'of inlet and outlet for the air notnecessarily of the particular kind example here shown, and that theinlet and outlet may be reversed in position if desired. If desired,although it is not essential, a fan 25 or other air impelling means maybe arranged within the casing so as to produce a more or less positivemovement of air upwardly through the casing.

, In the path of the moving air is a heat exchanger 26, here shown as acoil, for example a steam coil, but intended as typicalof anydesiredtype of heat exchanger having a surface over which the air may owand by means of which the temperature of the ainmay be changed by con-,vection and/or conduction. Thus, for example,

the heatexchanger for the passage of an'y fluid such as steam, hot

. gas, hot waternr a cooling medium such as rel frigei'ated brine orcold gas, or such exchanger may take the form of an electricalresistance coil, a chamber for the combustion of fuel either solid,gaseous or liquid, or for holding solid re` stantially uniform liquidlevel in the several sections. Liquid may be supplied to this panthrougha pipe il and may overilow through a pipe I5, such pipescorresponding to those similarly numbered in the arrangement shown inFig. 2. Preferably the pan 2T is shaped to receive evaporative platesI6, such as above de-L scribed, which dip down into the pan to receiveliquid ltherefrom -by capillary action and which expose a large surfaceto the current of so that the air mayreceive moistureA before passingout through the exit openings. Y i

All of these and such other variations and substitutions as may occur tothose skilled in the art are to be regarded as falling within the scopeof vthe present invention, as dened in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. Air conditioning apparatus of the class described in whichair is warmed by means of a sectional heater whose constituent sectionsare designed `to dene evaporating pans, comprising in combination asubstantially rigid plate of bibulous material, said plate having spacedintegral legs projecting from one edge, each leg being received in theevaporating pan of a corresponding section, and plate-positioning meanscarried by each section designed to removably hold the plate inoperative position.

2. Air conditioning apparatus of the class described, wherein air is,warmed by means of a sectional radiator of. substantially conventionaltype, comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel sectionsbetween which the' warmed air tends to ilow upwardly in parallelstreams,

may, as indicated, be a coil but having aY depression in the top wall ofeach directed leg portion which dips into one of the '15 operativeposition with portions of its surface bridging the spaces betweenadjacent radiator sections and directlyexposed to the currents of lwarmair rising between said sections. s 3. Air conditioning apparatus of theclass described, wherein air is warmed by means of a sectional radiatorof substantially conventional type, comprising a plurality of spaced,substantially parallel sections between which the warmed air tends toflow upwardly in parallel streams, but having a depression in the topwall of each section constituting an open topped evaporating' panandincluding means providing an evaporative surface of variable area,characterized in that said evaporating surface is provided by apluralityof plates, each of predetermined size and shape andeach havinga fluid-absorbent surface, said .plates being sufliciently rigid to beselfsustaining and each having a portion which reaches down into one atleast of the evaporating pans, and means operative removably to holdeach individual platehin a position such that a substantial area of theplate is disposed directly in the path of the warm air current whichrises between adjacent sections of the radiator.

4. Air conditioning apparatus of the class described, wherein air iswarmed by means of a sectional radiator of substantially conventionaltype, including spaced vertical sections but having the upper end ofeach section 'soshaped as to provide an evaporatlng pan elongate fromfront to rear of the radiator, each pan having downwardly convergentside walls and an open top, and a plurality of evaporating plates eachhaving a fluid-absorbent surface, each plate being vof such length as toextend from one radiator section to another when operatively disposedtransversely of the sections, each plate having legs projecting from itslower edge portion, each such leg l tapering4 in widthand being shapedto t between the converging side walls of one of the respective pans ofthe radiator. l n

' LAUREN E. SEELEY.

